Most Protestants Say Drinking No Sin
Most Protestant pastors and lay people say that drinking alcohol is not a sin even through the Bible prohibits drunkenness, the Christian Post reported Sept. 26.
A survey by LifeWay Research found that 29 percent of lay Protestants and 24 percent of pastors said that people should never drink alcohol, but more pastors (68 percent) than laity (54 percent) believe that the Bible allows drinking.
On the other hand, 90 percent of clergy believe that Christians who use alcohol could cause confusion among other believers, compared to 63 percent of lay members.
The largest U.S. Protestant group, the Southern Baptist Convention, still opposes the manufacture, advertising, distribution, and consumption of alcohol, however. Southern Baptist pastors are much more likely than lay members to believe that Christians should not drink.
